In most of our schools, the heads of institutions grapple with inherently difficult teachers, who make the lives of the administrators difficult.
An example of this is teachers who dress indecently, wearing very tight skirts or trousers that scuttle the concentration of learners in class.
Such teachers have a thousand and one reasons why they dress so and would say, “My dress, my choice.” Some are well-connected to different sources of power and would even threaten the survival of the head of the institution.
These teachers are always against any good policy the principal devises, making sure nothing good happens in the school.
Other teachers of this nature secretly form groups in the learning institution and incite teachers, workers, and learners against the administrators. When a strike occurs, they are always the first ones to behave as pacifists.
Difficult teachers have no time to plan their lessons. They are always pushed to prepare schemes of work, lesson notes, and even updating the registers, among other important professional documents.
Some of these teachers, whom we consider hard, come late to school and avoid responsibility at all costs.
It’s important to note that in the advent of administration, principals find it rather hard and rough since such teachers would, for instance, say today, ‘ my mother is dead” Then, after seven months, the teacher forgets, and the very mother who was presumably dead is again said to be dead.
READ ALSO:
Teachers ask TSC to increase hardship allowances to 60 percent, cite tough working conditions
The principal is torn apart, not knowing whether the teacher is deceiving him or not.
Such teachers waste learners’ time in class by lacking the subject matter and struggling to impart knowledge.
Institutional heads should stop at nothing when such behaviour is exhibited but initiate counsel and warning. When it goes overboard, relevant steps must be taken concerning the teachers’ code of conduct.
Difficult teachers never account for the money they are given to conduct school programmes. They don’t bring receipts when they go out with learners. They leave the entire problem to the bursar and principal.
Some very hard teachers would stealthily steal their way into the school compound and sit in a very reserved area while they are indeed drunk. They don’t contribute to any motion for fear of being detected.
Teachers have their welfare department in learning institutions. Such teachers never contribute to the welfare of their colleagues, deeming it wasteful.
Some teachers are too religious to fit into the school system and imagine that the staffroom is a collection of very sinful people. This is in itself detrimental to the school’s progress. While other servants of the Lord would treat staff members with a lot of decorum, others grossly condemn them.
Very difficult teachers find it bothersome to give a fellow staff member a lift in their cars, even if they are going in the same direction.
All staff members should put aside their pride and learn to stay with others with all respect because they need each other much more than ever. They should realise that the school is their first family, and then others come in later.
Research has shown that very difficult teachers at the work place are even much more difficult at the home environment. The family feels comfortable when they are absent from home.
All people should work tirelessly towards peace and harmony in the workplace.
By Hillary Muhalya
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
